Wilmington, NC News

Archive for April, 2014

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Police have arrested 30 people in Winston-Salem on sex trafficking charges resulting from an investigation spanning more than four years.

Winston-Salem Police said its special investigations division launched an investigation in August 2009 into allegations of organized prostitution. State and federal law enforcement also joined the investigation.

A statement from police Thursday said the investigation ended in January, and identified at least five foreign nationals, including one minor, as victims of sex trafficking and who were trafficked at locations in Winston-Salem.

In all, 40 people have been arrested on state and federal charges. Police said 25 brothels were identified in North Carolina, nine of which were in Winston-Salem.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Gov. Pat McCrory says he wants to make it easier for new veterans to attend any of North Carolina’s community colleges.

McCrory announced Thursday he’ll seek in his upcoming budget proposal a provision to give the in-state tuition rate to veterans for any of the 58 community colleges. It’s considered a way to encourage them to settle in North Carolina after separation from the military and contribute their skills to the economy.

The governor says more than 60,000 members of the military are expected to leave the service in North Carolina during the next five years as the war in Afghanistan ends.

McCrory made the announcement at the inaugural Women Veterans Summit and Expo in Raleigh.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)